Talk about a long day! Talk about mind numbing! Talk about simple gifts with a ribbon that just wont come off...
I did one more leash guiding session before lunch with J. It was informational like all of the things I have learned. I'm sitting here doubting myself because there are going to be doubts that I can't dodge away from because only time will tell how I handle all this hardcore training. I did everything fine when I was working with the trainer. Then again, trainers are not at all like an unpredictable jumpy dog who has been kenneled since Thursday.
Lunch time came about 12 minutes after my session with J. We had some beef and barley soup, a ham, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mustard sandwich with pickles and Doritos on the side, and we had cookies for desert. Lemonade was my chosen beverage. All of us were squirming as we ate. We talked about how excited we were and how time was so damn slow. After eating, I accompanied a couple others to the leather lounge and we chatted for as long as we could help. We discussed what our dogs may be like and where we were from and continued to mentally thrash until it was 5 minutes to 1 PM EST. All but 3 of us were situated in chairs in the gathering room. S talked to us about what was going to happen to us when we received our dogs. After this short lecture, we were told to go to our rooms, make it dog proof, and sit on the bed when the trainer knocked on the door.
It felt like hours as I attempted to read and keep my mind off of the waiting. Finally, J knocked and asked if I was ready. I responded with a yes and shut my eyes because I was nervous. He sniffed and prodded into my world at 1:35 PM EST. The first thing I felt was a nose push into my hands. He was a big dog. I opened my eyes and grinned the widest grin. J left me with the leash in my hand. Jim and I bonded for a little bit, I was seriously about to cry. J came back for me. We were brought into the leather lounge as a big group. I commanded Jim to find me a chair and then I put him in a down and under position beneath me. He is so very well behaved! I had to put everything I learned into use. My brain felt like it was chilled in a cooler for a bit. Although I managed.
S welcomed us and talked for a little bit about basic training and control. Some of the dogs were antsy and excited. Jim was perfectly fine. He laid calmly at my feet as I sat there and let it all soak in. Before I knew it, S had told us that we were to go to the gathering room. One by one, we all walked with our dogs using commands and found ourselves in the room. I succeeded in putting Jim in a down-and-under without assistance. We are getting along! S talked to us about feeding and watering the dogs and how that is done. Some dogs are fed Eukanuba and some are fed Iams. Jim is supposed to have a cup and three fourths of food in the morning and the evening. We were told to return to our rooms and tie our dogs down. Remember, a tie down is not a punishment, it's a place for the dog to lie down and veg out. (This may not apply for other guide dog schools, but that is what GDF's policy is.)
J came into my room and we went through how many cups I feed Jim. When I was ready, I took his leash off the hook, clipped it to his collar, unhooked his tie down, and brought him to the bathroom door and made him sit and stay. Before I did this, I had scooped out the food ahead of time. Fortunately, J helped me mark the measuring cup with a permanent pen on the outside. Now I can see the 3/4 line for the second cup. Jim was still sitting and staying and I slowly placed the food on the mat that was moved to the center of the bathroom and then blew my whistle thrice and said, "Jim, eat!" Immediately as if he was shot by lightening, Jim gobbled up his meal like it was nothing. I praised him and J instructed me to wash out the bowl and give him some water. The water is supposed to be filled to the point of where your thumb is when you're holding the bowl. I put the water on the sink and made Jim return to the door frame and put him at a sit-stay. Then I said, "Jim, drink." and he came over, took what he wanted and waited for me. J told me that I was doing just fine and asked if I could handle this for the following morning and so on. I nodded a yes. It was time to break (park, take out) Jim.
Breaking time was interesting. The first time he guided me out to the park area, he didn't go at all. How many times do I have to say "Busy, Busy!", "Get busy!", "Up front!". Not a thing happened. I was kind of frustrated. Then again I can't expect a new dog to do something for me if I forced him to. I bonded with him a little bit. It was dinner time very soon.
Dinner consisted of fish with a lemon, a giant potato, and some veggies. I had iced tea to drink and blueberry cheese cake for dessert. It was 6:30 and we had to water our dogs. I did the same procedure and was surprised as Jim slurped up more water. How does he hold it in? The class was allowed to practice leash guiding with their dogs. I asked S and he said that I probably shouldn't take Jim out because he didn't park. Not long after, S changed his mind and said I could take Jim out. Jim was fine. There was no accidents and I got to bond more with him instead of having him cooped up in the room all alone. (I can only stand so much of my bed room.) Before I knew it, it was time to take Jim to our short basic training session. I had to move from the leather lounge to the gathering room. Jim did a great job guiding me.
We arrived safely and not long after the short demonstrations and learning process began. Each student went up to work with their dog. I was chosen last out of five and had to sit for a long time. I was reminded on how to command Jim to stay, come, sit, up-sit, and heel. He performed excellently while I struggled to handle him properly. By the time I was finished, it was nearly time to break the dogs for the last time for the day. Once again, Jim didn't do anything. But sae la vie. He's going to have to break sometime.... I know he can't hold it in for long....
Now he's back on tie down, content, and asleep. I'm assuming he's exhausted like I am. Not to mention, he was gnawing the hell out of the nylabone I had given him earlier.
Can't wait for tomorrow. Jim is amazing and I can't wait to see what else he can do. He's incredibly bright.
Here is a picture of my monster love. He is very tall, black, silver speckled and handsome. What do you think of him? I'll upload better pics when I get a chance.
Talk to you in the morning! Ew, 6 AM wake up call...
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